Our Data — How CreditDoc Works

Our 5-Factor System

Each company is evaluated across five factors, scored 1.0–5.0. The overall rating is the weighted average:

What Each Metric Means

Response Rate

The percentage of consumer complaints that received ANY response from the company. A 100% response rate means the company replied to every complaint — but it does NOT mean every consumer was helped or satisfied. A company can respond "we disagree" to every complaint and still show 100%.

On-Time Response

The percentage of responses delivered within the CFPB's 15-business-day deadline. Companies that consistently miss this deadline may face CFPB enforcement action.

Resolved with Relief

The percentage of complaints where the consumer received actual monetary relief (refund, credit, fee waiver) or non-monetary relief (account correction, policy change). This is the strongest indicator of consumer-friendly resolution.

Complaints (12 months)

Total complaints filed against this company in the last 12 months. Important context: a high number does NOT necessarily mean a bad company. Bank of America has 100,000+ complaints because they serve 67 million customers. What matters is the rate relative to company size and the resolution quality.

Complaint Trend

"Stable" means complaint volume is roughly the same as the prior 12-month period. "Rising" means complaints are increasing. "Declining" means they're decreasing. We calculate this by comparing the most recent 12 months against the previous 12 months.

What Each Part Means

"Ideal for..."

The type of consumer who would benefit most from this company, based on their services, pricing tier, and specialization. Derived from category analysis and service offerings.

"Strength..."

The company's highest-scoring factor or most notable differentiator. This is what they do better than competitors in their category.

"Watch out for..."

The company's lowest-scoring factor or most common complaint theme from CFPB data. This is what you should be aware of before signing up.

Starting Price

The lowest advertised monthly cost for the company's base service tier. "Free/mo" means the company does not charge a recurring monthly subscription fee — common for BNPL lenders, free credit monitoring services, and some non-profit counselors. It does NOT mean the service has zero cost (lenders charge interest, some services charge per-use fees).

Setup Fee

A one-time enrollment or activation cost charged when you first sign up. "None" means no upfront cost to begin using the service.

Money-Back Guarantee

"Yes" means the company has a written refund policy — typically a specific number of days during which you can cancel for a full refund. "No" means no formal guarantee is offered (you may still be able to cancel, but refunds are not guaranteed).

How they're selected: Same service category + same state, sorted by CreditDoc rating. If you're looking at a credit repair company in Georgia, the similar companies are other credit repair providers also serving Georgia.

Important: The ratings shown on similar company cards are THEIR OWN ratings — not the rating of the company you're currently viewing. A main company rated 4.2 may show similar companies rated 4.9 because those companies scored higher in our methodology.

Why this matters: Comparison shopping is essential for financial services. Seeing alternatives side-by-side helps you evaluate whether the company you're looking at is the best fit, or whether a competitor might serve you better.

Usury Caps

The maximum interest rate a lender can charge in your state. Some states cap at 36% APR, others have no cap. Knowing your state's limit tells you whether a rate offer is within legal bounds.

Payday Loan Status

"Banned" means your state prohibits payday lending entirely. "Allowed" means it's legal with regulations. "Restricted" means it's legal but with strict limits on amounts, rollovers, or fees.

Credit Repair Regulations

Many states prohibit credit repair companies from charging upfront fees before work is performed. Some require surety bonds or specific cancellation periods. We display these rules so you know what a company is legally required to offer you.

FDIC Branch Count

The number of federally insured branch locations in your area. Higher counts mean more physical access points and stronger regulatory oversight (FDIC-insured institutions are subject to regular examinations).

What you'll find: Local providers that serve your city, state-specific regulations that apply to you, HMDA lending data for your area, and localized answers to questions like "what are the best credit repair companies in my city?"

Category sub-pages: Each city has dedicated pages for specific needs — credit repair, personal loans, emergency cash, debt relief, and more. These show only providers that serve your city and state, filtered by the service you actually need.

How providers are listed: Companies physically located in your city appear first, followed by statewide providers that serve your area. This ensures you see the most local options before seeing larger regional companies.

Why local matters: State laws determine what fees are legal, what protections you have, and what recourse you have if something goes wrong. A company may be excellent in one state and unable to operate in another. Our city guides account for this.

How companies get listed: We track every identifiable financial services provider in our covered categories. Companies are NOT listed because they pay us — and they cannot pay to be removed. If a company provides financial services to consumers, it belongs in our directory.

What's on every profile: CreditDoc rating, CFPB transparency data, editorial diagnosis, pricing, location and map, similar companies, and frequently asked questions.

How we verify information: Company details are cross-referenced against state licensing databases (NMLS), Secretary of State business filings, FDIC BankFind, and company websites.

Editorial independence: No company can pay for a higher rating, better placement, or removal of negative data. If the CFPB data shows problems, we show it. If a company has regulatory actions against it, we display that. Our obligation is to you, the consumer — not to the companies we profile.

Update frequency: Data refreshes daily (CFPB sync). Full editorial review on a quarterly cycle. The "Updated" badge on each profile shows the most recent refresh date.

Data sources: Company-reported addresses, state licensing records (NMLS), and FDIC BankFind for insured institutions.

What the map shows: The company's headquarters or nearest branch. For multi-location companies, we show each branch as a separate profile because they may serve different areas, have different hours, or be regulated by different state offices.

"Serving" vs "Located in": Some companies serve your area remotely without a physical local office. They appear in your city's results if they're licensed to operate in your state. Companies with a physical location in your city are listed first.

Limitations: Map pins are approximate and based on the address on file. Always verify hours, exact location, and appointment requirements directly with the company before visiting.